SR-100

[JohnJW]

I am wondering if anyone has any experience with the SR-100 gantry router. I search through the forum and while there's a few people with GR series I couldn't find any information on the SR series. The primary use for the SR100 will be to cut wood and plastic and maybe to drill some small holes into aluminum. The main attraction for the SR100 is the price though some of options are quite pricey.

I noticed none of the gantry machines are on Haas's "Inventory Reduction Sale" does that mean they are selling like hot cakes or no one is buying them and Haas is not really making them?

Thanks,

John

[tobyaxis]

Originally Posted by JohnJW I noticed none of the gantry machines are on Haas's "Inventory Reduction Sale" does that mean they are selling like hot cakes or no one is buying them and Haas is not really making them? Thanks, John

I know nothing of the HAAS Routers but you can bet that the "Inventory Reduction Sale" is to stimulate the economy. Primarily theirs, LOL.

[JohnJW]

Originally Posted by tobyaxis I know nothing of the HAAS Routers but you can bet that the "Inventory Reduction Sale" is to stimulate the economy. Primarily theirs, LOL.

They're still manufacturing in the US so I don't mind them stimulating the economy

Anyway, I search some more online and read through Haas's website. From what I understand the SR-100 has a rack and pinion for XY axis. How does rack and pinion compare with ballscrew for speed, durability, and accuracy? and what type of accuracy can be expected from the SR-100? For the GR series, it's .002"/.001" repeatability/accuracy but Haas did not list that information for the SR series.

I browse through the woodworking section and there are some very impressive 5 axis wood working machines . Wow, those machine are amazing . . multiple spindle with multiple tool changers and very cool integrated work holding posts . . . quite expensive too. . .

[JohnJW]

I got the machine quote from Haas. The accuracy specs on the SR-100 are

Full travel +/- .005"
Over any 10" +/-.003"
Repeatability +/- .001"

The problem with options is that they're expensive and with access to the web I tend to wonder if there's a cheaper and DIY work around. I notice there are some home made tool changer for TM series where the tools are just placed on racks and accessed by the spindle when needed.

Is it feasible to forgo the ATC, get the macro option and write macros to pick and drop tools off from a DIY tool rack.

Given the table size 4' x 8', should I get a remote jog handle?

Thanks

John

[Donkey Hotey]

Originally Posted by JohnJW Is it feasible to forgo the ATC, get the macro option and write macros to pick and drop tools off from a DIY tool rack.

I don't think you need Macros to do that. All you need is the rack, to know the location of where the tools are and how to manually clamp / unclamp the spindle using M-codes. That's in the basic machine.

[CJH]

John,

The SR100 may suit your needs in the short term, or fit within any budget constraints that you have. But you need to think beyond the price as well. We just recently purchased a CNC Router for our cabinet shop and model shop to use.

We spent about 3 years looking at various machines, options and prices. We have a TM-1 that is exclusively a model shop machine. In looking at all the Haas Routers the SR100 won hands down for price. But we had to look past it for a number of reasons. We also were looking at machines from other manufacturers.

After narrowing it down to Haas and Onsrud, we started really looking at machine construction.

Things we were looking for, were the ability to machine plastics, aluminum, brass, foams, plywood and hardwoods. So once we knew what materials we were machining and the accuracy we were looking for, the choices quickly revealed themselves. We opted not to look at the lower cost machine. The rack and pinions would not provide the accuracy/rigidity that we needed, and the fact the machine had no vacuum table was a big drawback for us.

So we immediately jumped right up to the GR408, which is now discontinued. Although this machine had no vac table either we were willing to add one. As a note a solidly constructed aluminum vac table that will cover the travels of a 4' X 8" machine will cost in the area of $70K. After realizing that the GR408 was close in cost to the bigger machines we looked at those closer since occasionaly we machine oversize sheet goods.

The larger Haas machines are ballscrew machines and the had the accuracy we needed. Ballscrews will give much better cutting accuracy. The Onsrud has rack and pinions drives, but still holds the tight accuracy to do all of our cabinet shop work. Other things we looked at were machine bases, cast iron verses welded steel, style of tool holders, ease of use in the control, programming, dust collection, Vacuum tables, etc.

In the end we eventually ended up buying the Onsrud at over $100K. I was more in favor of the Haas machines but the cabinet shop felt the Onsrud would suit their needs closer. We found that a comparable Onsrud machine to the Haas GR5 or 7 series machines was going to be over $200K.

The options are always where the manufacturers get you on the cost. When all the bells and whistles are added up a machine can get expensive. The bottom line is evaluate your needs carefully, and get the best machine to meet those and the budget.

CJH

[JohnJW]

Thank CJH,

Unfortunately, we only have enough budget for a SR100. We'll primarily use it to route and drill small pieces of hardwood. . . at least that what we think we'll do it. In a dusty environment the exposed rack and pinion system is not the most ideal and it's no where near the GR series, but at less than half the cost, it will do for now. Though for inexpensive routers there are other comparable US made machines with ball screws. . . . I'm still looking into it and I figure whatever inexpensive machine we end up with, by the time we out grow it we can probably afford a better machine.

John

[CJH]

Hey John,

Some questions to ask the Haas dealer are...

Are the racks inverted? Meaning are the teeth pointing down. If they are then this may not be as much of an issue. some of the machines we looked at had inverted racks so the chips were less likely to get caught in the teeth causing inaccuracy issues.

Also find out how thick the walls are on the tube steel construction. if they are on the thicker side then the extra wall thickness will help absorb some of the vibration from cutting hardwoods.

Also I would highly reccomend the tool changer, the auto air gun, and the now available vac table.

Hope this helps.